Disaster Recovery Acts Reviewed by House Select Committee

Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina House Select Committee on Disaster Relief received a briefing from the state’s Emergency Management Division on Monday detailing the allocation of more than $300 million in funds from the Disaster Recovery Acts (DRAs) of 2016 and 2017.

House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne) and Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Bladen) co-chair the House Select Committee on Disaster Relief to oversee assets and services deployed in response to Tropical Storms Hermine and Julia, Hurricane Matthew, and the western North Carolina wildfires of 2016.

“The eastern portion of our state has seen a great deal of challenges during its recovery,” Rep. Jones said following the committee meeting.

“I am pleased to see continued support from the state legislature and look forward to working with my fellow legislators, the administration, and our local officials as our region continues to recover and grow.”

Emergency Management Division Director Mike Sprayberry provided specific spending figures to committee members on a range of relief efforts provided by the DRAs ncluding assistance to individuals, housing initiatives, and local government infrastructure.

The DRAs of 2016 and 2017 also funded assistance to businesses, agriculture infrastructure, recovery planning, community colleges, and state match funds for federal assistance program.

“It’s our duty to monitor the state’s response and make sure the funds go where they were intended to go and that we continue to keep disaster recovery in the forefront as we move forward,” said House Majority Leader John Bell.

“We thank the Speaker for recognizing the importance of the issue and setting up the House Select Committee on Disaster Relief.”

The DRA of 2016 passed last December to provide $200 million in relief funding. The DRA of 2017 passed this June with an additional $100 million package.

Committee members also discussed mitigating flood-prone communities to make them more resilient, addressing river and stream drainage problems, and planning for damage prevention and future cost-avoidance.

Funding from Disaster Recovery Acts of 2016 & 2017

Housing Programs & Assistance: $20 million DRA-16

Emergency Management: $9 million DRA-16, $20 million DRA-17

Lumber River Council of Government: $5 million DRA-17

Local Government Infrastructure: $40 million DRA-16, $30 million DRA-17